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What is the Daily CARE Plan?

AMH won for its Daily CARE Plan, a patient information sheet that provides current and relevant information regarding the patient's plan of care, which is distributed each day to patients and their families on many units in the hospital. This tool contains daily clinical information about the patient from the hospital's clinical information system.

"Patients are kept informed about the medications they are receiving, tests and procedures scheduled for the day, and other pertinent information, such as allergies and advanced directives," said Barbara Wadsworth, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. "Using layperson's language, the Daily CARE Plan encourages the patient to become a partner in their plan of care as the patient accesses and reviews information pertinent to their hospitalization."

"The Daily CARE Plan stood out for its simplicity and transferability," said Debbie Dawson Hatmaker, president, American Nurses Credentialing Center, in the letter announcing the award. "The Daily CARE Plan, when reviewed by a registered nurse, should be a great benefit to patient safety."

In April 2006, nurses on 5 Lenfest began giving patients a copy of their Daily CARE Plan. The concept, which was developed thanks to an Innovators' Circle Award grant funded by community donors, keeps patients actively engaged in their care and gives them the opportunity to call attention to any discrepancies between the care plan and the actual care they are receiving.

The care plan each patient receives includes prescribed medications, tests and much more. "It's been proven that if patients are included in their plan of care, they are much safer," says Diane Humbrecht, senior clinical infomatics specialist, Center for Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality.

Families also love the Daily CARE Plan, since family members often don't receive such comprehensive information about their loved ones' care. The Daily CARE Plan "helps take the wonder out of what's going on with a family member and encourages dialogue about patient care," says Humbrecht. Daily CARE Plans are now being used in many units at AMH.